Norfolk parents to face school absence fee increases

The number is 30pc higher than the previous year and suggests that more and more families are prepared to accept the fines in order to go on cheaper holidays.

The figures have emerged weeks before the start of the new term, when fines will go up from £120 - reduced to £60 for early payment - to £160 and £80 respectively. Fines are given to each parent involved.

The rise in the number of fines being issued has alarmed teaching unions who say the system can lead to tensions between parents and staff.

They also warn how absences can have a huge impact on the education not only of the children who are removed from classes but those who are left behind, because of the disruption it causes to teaching.

But many parents are undeterred.

Rebecca Fisher said she would continue to take her three children out of school during term time, because it would remain cheaper to pay the fine than the "insane" higher prices for trips during the school holidays.

"We always do it because it's so much busier and more expensive during the school holidays," she said.

Norfolk County Council (Image: Mike Page)

FINES REACH RECORD LEVELS

Norfolk County Council says more than 10,130 penalties were issued at state-funded schools across the region during the last academic year, the highest number on record.

This is an increase from 7,791 in the 2022/23 academic year and 2,980 in 2021/22, which was during the pandemic, when people travelled less.

The money collected from fines is used to fund the prosecution of offences in the cases of non-payment and any left over is spent on attendance support.

The amount raised could have amounted to anywhere between £600,000 and £1.2m last academic year - depending on the length of time taken to pay the fines.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesman said: "We are committed to improving attendance with the support-first approach outlined in our guidance, helping parents to meet their responsibility to ensure their child attends school.

"However, in cases of term-time holiday where support would be inappropriate in the first place legal intervention, including penalty notices, is available to change behaviour."

HOW ARE THE RULES CHANGING? 

The increased fines will come into place next term due to a national framework from the DfE which aims to achieve consistency between education authorities about how absences are dealt with.

There will be a threshold of five days of unauthorised absences within a rolling 10 school week period before a penalty notice can be issued at schools across the country.

This is a relaxation of the rules in Norfolk - where the threshold was previously 4.5 school days over six weeks.

The fines for a first offence will be £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days or reduced to £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, increasing from £120 and £60 respectively.

The second time a penalty notice is issued will result in a fine of £160 per parent, per child to be paid within 28 days.

Any further offences within three years will see the case taken to the magistrate's court and potential prosecution - which could result in criminal records and fines of up to £2,500. 

The government is cracking down on unauthorised absences (Image: Danny Lawson/PA)

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This is the first time penalties have increased since 2012 and the DfE says the rate has been calculated in line with inflation.

Norfolk County Council will be implementing these new rules from August 19.

WILL IT WORK? 

Many parents say they will continue to take their children on unauthorised holidays during term time despite the increased fines.

Rebecca Fisher, who runs a parenting and lifestyle blog in Burnham Market, says she regularly takes her three children on trips during term time. 

Rebecca Fisher with her three children (Image: Rebecca Fisher)

She said: "This isn't going to stop us. It will still be cheaper to take the fine.

"Lots of parents have worked out that it's more cost-efficient that way."

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Some teachers are also rebelling against the rules which restrict them to taking trips during school holidays, which they say cost "triple the price".

Shelby Flower quit her job at Sprowston Infant School earlier this summer after being declined a request to take her family to Disney World during term time. 

Shelby Flower with her family at Disney World in Florida (Image: Shelby Flower)

She said: "We couldn't afford to take that holiday during term time and didn't want to because of the amount of people - it ends up being too busy. 

"I was happy to pay the fine for taking the boys out of school but it didn't go down well at work and I had to hand in my notice. 

"We were creating memories of a lifetime for my family and I want to enjoy my life and not be controlled. Family comes first."

Scott Lyons, district secretary of the National Education Union, said: "We want children to be in school every day but I'm not convinced fines are the answer - some families go on holiday during term time because it is the only time they can afford it. The danger is that this creates more conflict with parents."